October 9, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Title: Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District Welcomes Marty Creel as its new Fire Chief Chief Creel Brings 30 Years of Emergency Services Experience to Our Community. 

The Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District (RVCFD) is pleased to announce that Marty Creel has been selected as the next Fire Chief and will officially join our team on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Chief Creel has 30 years in Fire and Emergency Medical Services. He began his career as a volunteer at RVCFD and worked for private ambulances in EMS for Ukiah Ambulance, AMR and RELS in Lakeport.

He attended the first Paramedic class at Mendocino College.

Chief Creel became a paid Firefighter/Paramedic at South Lake Tahoe and retired there in 2016. He promoted to the rank of Captain and worked closely with the Lake Valley Fire District in a JPA to operate the ambulances in the South Lake Tahoe area.

He served as the Fire Chief and Paramedic of Downieville Fire Protection District, one of the oldest Fire Volunteer Departments west of the Mississippi. He left Downieville in 2021.

Chief Creel most recently served as the Fire Chief of Sutter Basin Fire Protection District, in Sutter County,  leaving in February.

Chief Creel also served as the Executive Director of the California State Firefighters’ Association and Executive Director of the California First Responder Support Team until earlier this year.

He is married to Jackie, has two children and one grandchild.  His wife worked as an accountant and recently finished Law School.

Chief Creel has a degree in Fire Science and is State Certified as a Chief Fire Officer. He has also worked as an adjunct faculty member at multiple community colleges teaching fire science and EMS courses for 10 years.

Marty is excited to be back in Redwood Valley where his service in public safety began.

Please join us in welcoming Chief Creel to our team here at the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District.

The Fire District Board of Directors are enthusiastic to bring Chief Creel on board stating that his extensive background in fire and emergency medical services will benefit the community with knowledgeable oversight of the Fire District.

The RVCFD provides all-risk fire protection services to its 60.5 square miles of unincorporated communities.  This year to date, it responded to over 550 incidents for service. Besides the Fire Chief, RVCFD employs three full-time shift Duty Officers, allowing 24/7 coverage and a thirty-two hour a week Clerk.  The current volunteer firefighter roster is 22.

RVCFD is governed by five Board of Directors elected by the voters of the District.

District Personnel 

We rely on our crew of volunteer fire and EMS responders and the Fire Chief to provide the manpower to cover the needs of the community. In addition to emergency response, our volunteers help with fire and life safety education around the community and attend regular training to keep their skills and knowledge current. Along with basic fire and medical emergencies, services we provide include structural and wildland fire protection, rescue and extrication, hazardous materials response, and water rescue. 

The department remains committed to the safety and health of all Redwood Valley and Calpella residents and visitors and responds accordingly.

Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District Personnel 

Paid Staff

• Dan Grebil- Interim Fire Chief
• Kerry Robinson - Captain/EMT               Serving since February 2010
• Jeremiah Juszczak - Captain/EMT        Serving since March 2018 

Lead Volunteers

• Justin Ebert - Battalion Chief/Training Officer
  Serving since August  2008
• Tim Corpuz - Captain/EMT/Fire & Life Safety Officer
  Serving since August 2004
• Matt Keizer - Fire Apparatus Engineer/Fire Marshal                                                        Serving since August 2020

Contact the District

Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District

Phone: 707-485-8121

Email Address: jkeizer@redwoodvalleyfire.org

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 499, Redwood Valley CA 95470